E3 Spark Plugs News

Sneak peek of the 2013 Dodge Dart.

The last time you could buy a brand new Dodge Dart was the same year moviegoers were lining up for The Rocky Horror Picture Show, newshounds were following the Watergate trials, Peter Gabriel was still the Genesis frontman and Bob Chandler was tooling away in his garage, creating the first Monster Truck Bigfoot. Until now, that is. Yep – the Dodge Dart is back. But this ain’t your granny’s Slant-Six lead sled.

Next year, Dodge will revive the Dart name for its newest small car, replacing the ailing Caliber. It’s designed is based on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta and will hit the streets with a choice of three engines: the Tigershark 16-valve 2.0-liter, a 16-valve 1.4-liter MultiAir® Intercooled Turbo, and a new Tigershark 16-valve 2.4-liter MultiAir® four-cylinder engine. Dodge marketers are billing the 2013 Dart as a four-door sedan that “redefines performance” and “brings fun back to driving” in the compact car segment.

1960 Dodge Dart. Photo credit: DDCoral / Shutterstock.com

The original Dodge Dart was produced from 1960-1976. Initially, the Dodge suits didn’t like the name and doled out big money to a hotshot marketing firm who came back with a gloriously bad recommendation: the “Dodge Zipp.”

“Um. Nevermind,” the suits said. And the newest Dodge kept its Dart moniker, a nod to the Convair F-106 Delta Dart, at the time a new military aircraft, and the 1960s Space Race craze. The Dart’s GTS muscle version of the late 1960s is the one most revered by fans and romanticized by filmmakers. But the 1970s models’ overuse in TV shows of the era, plus the 1998-2006 That ’70s Show, deemed the collective late-model Dodge Dart “Grandma’s car.”

1971 Dodge Dart Swinger. Photo in public domain, courtesy of Wikipedia.

The world will get its first full look at the new Dodge Dart at the Detroit Auto Show in January. Until then, you can get a glimpse on the Dodge website. But be forewarned that a frustrating teaser is all you’ll see. Thus far, Dodge has released only a series of extreme close-ups of select features. Remember those face-only shots of Marlon Brando’s Col. Kurtz character in Apocalypse Now? Yeah. That’s kinda what you’ll get until January.

So, E3 Spark Plugs fans, which is your favorite Dodge Dart? Will your car buff heart remain loyal to the reverse-finned ’60s models or the angular-edged ’70s Swingers? Or are you waiting with bated breath for the Dart’s new era? Post your thought on the E3 Spark Plugs Facebook fan page. And in the meantime, enjoy this vintage Dodge Dart commercial from 1966 – Join the Dodge Rebellion, baby!

The 2012 EnduroCross season expands to eight events.

Officials of the GEICO AMA EnduroCross Championship Series announced its 2012 racing schedule. The 2012 Championship expands to eight events with the series kicking off in Las Vegas on Friday, May 4th on Supercross finals weekend.

Known as the “toughest racing on two wheels,” EnduroCross pits competitors against each other on extreme off-road tracks featuring boulders, logs, sand and mud pits, a water hole and other surprise obstacles like giant tires.

EnduroCross is a favorite of racing fans both in the stands and on the living room couch. Events air on ESPN, ESPN2, ABC and the Versus network. Check TV listings for air dates. And if you don’t want to wait for the programming guys, mark your calendar to catch all the EnduroX events live.

2012 GEICO AMA EnduroCross Schedule

• May 4, Orleans Arena (Friday during Supercross weekend), Las Vegas, NV
• June 9, Power Balance Pavilion, Sacramento, CA
• Los Angeles, CA, date and venue TBD
• September 15, Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, CA
• October 6, National Western Complex, Denver, CO
• October 20, Comcast Arena, Everett, WA
• October 27, Idaho Center, Boise, ID
• November 17, Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, NV

E3 Spark Plugs is proud to co-sponsor the GEICO AMA EnduroCross Championship Series and looks forward to a hard-charging, thrill-packed racing season.

Taddy Blazusiak sweeps the final two events of the GEICO AMA EnduroCross Championships for a perfect season. Phot by Drew Ruiz via EnduroCross.

The final rounds of the 2011 GEICO AMA EnduroCross series might as well have been dubbed the “Taddy Blazusiak Show.” The Polish phenom won both main events, making it a perfect season. But Taylor Robert came with his A-game as well, earning his first ever EnduroCross podium and claiming the E3 Spark Plugs Junior Championship for top drivers under age 21.

In the afternoon Hot Laps, it looked like Blazusiak had some real competition. Beta’s Cody Webb claimed the fastest lap time in the battle for heat race gate picks. Blazusiak settled for second, followed by KTM teammate Mike Brown, Husqvarna’s Cory Graffunder and Monster Kawasaki’s Justin Soule. Blazusiak, Brown and Webb proved strong enough in the Hot Laps to earn a direct shot to the double main events.

In the first main event, Blazusiak shot to the front right away, winning the $1,000 Girardi Wealth Management Holeshot award. He kept that lead all the way to the finish line, though Soule remained close enough to make the race an exciting one for both the competitors and the fans. Graffunder also rode an impressive race, making it to the podium in his second race after a broken wrist kept him off the tracks for most of the season.

GEICO Honda’s Kyle Redmond claimed the holeshot in the second main event, but Blazusiak was hot on his trail. Blazusiak quickly took the lead – and took it in a big way. He led by a long shot throughout the remainder of the race. Robert, Brown, Soule and Redmond crossed the finish line behind, him. Keith Sweeten and Jacob Argubright finished second and third, respectively, behind Robert for the E3 Spark Plugs Junior Championship.

Visit the EnduroCross website for full results and mark your calendars for the 2012 championship kickoff in Las Vegas May 4. To all the winners this weekend, congratulations from E3 Spark Plugs!

16-year-old Austin Barnes is the latest E3 75 winner.

This past weekend’s E3 75 got off to a pretty rough start with the first of four yellow flags falling even before the entire field of 26 starters could get past the starting line. But once the drivers got into the groove, it proved to be a spectacular race.

Part of the Lucas Oil Modified Racing Series presented by Rockstar Energy Drink, the E3 75 boasted a field of the best open wheel driving talent from throughout the western states area and a $3,000 winning purse. The pre-race favorite was 16-year-old Escondido, Californian Austin Barnes, who started the day by setting a new track qualifying record of 15.215 seconds. Barnes led most of the race, but nearly lost it to Aaron McMorran, who, in a last-minute deal, climbed into the driver’s seat of the #1H modified normally driven in the series by Thomas Pfundstein.

McMorran clearly had winning on his mind and Barnes’ taillights in his sight. He drove a hard-charged fight to catch and pass Barnes and came heartbreakingly close. Barnes held onto the lead and won by a mere seven tenths of a second. Rounding out the top five were Scott Winters, Bear Rzesnowiecky and Shelby Strobel.

E3 Spark Plugs congratulates Barnes and all the racers who burned up the Las Vegas Bullring Nov. 5.

Chevy Camaro Hot Wheels car recreation.

E3 Spark Plugs just got back from the 2011 SEMA Show, the world’s premier automotive specialty products trade event. As always, this year’s event featured a massive array of amazing rides. And of course, we have a few favorites. See pics in our gallery below.

We spotted one candy apple red beauty as we walked up to the Las Vegas Convention Center. This 1955 Plymouth Belvedere was rebuilt by Pistons N Pipes Rod and Custom in Katy, TX. And it’s for sale! Take a look at the Pistons N Pipes website if you’re seriously interested. If this becomes your next vintage ride, be sure to post pics on the E3 Facebook fan page.

Chevrolet took us on a memory ride back to our childhood days with this concept recreation of the Chevy Camaro Hot Wheels car in the original Spectraflame green color. Too bad this one will remain just a concept car, or we’d be the first in line to buy one.

Here’s one you CAN buy. For just $15,000, you can get a newly built body for the original Mustang Convertible. It’s made with virgin metal and modern welding techniques, rust-proofed and paint-ready. It’s shipped via freight truck and comes with the doors, trunk lid and sheet metal from the radiator support to the taillight panel (hood and front fenders sold separately). Use it to rebuild a 1964, 1965 or 1966 Mustang.

The D3 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe also turned a lot of heads at this year’s SEMA show. This high-performance sports coupe dubbed the “Le Monstre” boasts a wide body, European track styling and a sinister matte black paint job. It’s powered with a 1,001-hp V8 and will compete in time attack events next year.

What was your favorite SEMA show highlight? E3 Spark Plugs wants to know. Post a comment on our blog or a pic on the E3 Spark Plugs Facebook fan page.

A celebrity auction hosted on eBay is raising money to benefit late IndyCar racer Dan Wheldon's two young sons.

Danica Patrick’s ride in Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race will honor the late Dan Wheldon, who was killed in an IndyCar crash at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last month. And a celebrity auction on Ebay is racking up tens of thousands of dollars to benefit Wheldon’s children.

Patrick’s car will feature Wheldon’s famous Lionheart logo on the hood and promote the racer’s memorial website. In place of her famous American flag-themed helmet, Patrick will wear a special tribute helmet that will be auctioned off. At the time of his death, Wheldon was slated to replace Patrick at Andretti Autosport in 2012, as Patrick begins her fulltime NASCAR career.

The auction benefiting the trust set up for Wheldon’s two-year-old son Sebastian and infant son Oliver began with a simple, loving gesture by fellow IndyCar racer Graham Rahal. Almost immediately after Rahal announced he would auction off his Las Vegas finale helmet to help raise money for Wheldon’s young sons, offers from other celebrity athletes came flooding in. Eleven-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater offered a surfboard. Lance Armstrong pledged a Tour de France Jersey. Rahal’s phone rang off the hook.

Rahal enlisted help from GoDaddy.com and got connected with eBay, which waived all fees. Los Angeles-based Auction Cause stepped up to manage the auction. And a Twitter account, @DWheldonAuction, landed more than 4,000 followers within 20 minutes of its launch, growing to nearly 13,000 at press time.

Thus far, the auction has raised nearly $220,000.

“I thought we would have a lot of support and a pretty good turnout of people saying ‘We’ll give this’ or ‘We’ll give that,’ but for it to get as large as it has—nobody ever expected this,” Rahal told reporters Wednesday. “It’s been pretty cool. I think it shows how tight-knit the sports community is overall. It isn’t just racing.”

E3 Spark Plugs sends continued thoughts to the Wheldon family and kudos to the racing pros and fans helping them through a heartbreaking time. And we encourage you to visit the auction site and bid high!

Johnny Depp and Aaron Eckhart. along with a few great vintage rides, star in the film adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson's "The Rum Diary." This late 1950s Austin Healy just might be our favorite.

After years of will-it or won’t-it-get-made speculation, the Johnny Depp-fronted adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson’s The Rum Diary finally hits theater screens nationwide Friday. We here at E3 Spark Plugs have been waiting with bated breath for this one. Not just for the crazed Gonzo brand of entertainment. Not just because Amber Heard is a stone cold hottie. Not just because any movie with a line like “We’ll nail this bastard to his own front door” has to be a good one. But for the parade of sweet (and just plain funny) vintage rides.

The Rum Diary is the story of Paul Kemp (played by Depp in a young Thompson-esque way), a divorced, anti-authoritarian boozehound of a journalist who jettisons the madness of New York and the crushing conventions of late Eisenhower-era America for the beautiful Puerto Rico to write for The San Juan Star, a tiny local newspaper on its last legs. Kemp quickly adapts to the rum-soaked island life and develops an obsession for the beautiful Chenault (Heard). Trouble is, Chenault just happens to be engaged to Sanderson (Aaron Eckhart), who just happens to be a corrupt developer bent on turning the pristine island into a capitalist paradise sucking up to the wealthy. Sanderson recruits Kemp to write some positive fluff about his latest scheme, which sets the film up for its major conflict: Kemp must decide whether to use his words to benefit the sleazy businessmen’s bottom line or to take the bastards down.

Great storyline, no doubt. But what we love are the great vintage vehicles you’ll see all through the film, set in the late 1950s. The trailer opens with Kemp driving a sweet candy apple red ’59 Corvette, which Producer Graham King let Depp take home after filming wrapped. That’s the kind of employment bonus we should all be so lucky to land. Another jaw dropper is Sanderson’s late 1950s Austin Healey. You gotta love the decidedly less glam Fiat 500 minus doors, a roof and a front seat – kinda like that loveable loser friend you’re always bailing out of trouble and but keep around anyway. And who doesn’t dig a vintage motorcycle with Giovanni Ribisi in a sidecar. We’re not sure of the model, but we’re thinking it’s a Harley 45. Incidentally, we hear the film has inspired a jam band named Giovanni Ribisi in a Motorcycle Sidecar.

Got a favorite vintage ride featured in a period film? E3 Spark Plugs wants to know. Leave us a comment on our blog or on the E3 Spark Plugs Facebook fan page.

Off-road racing champion Rick Huseman and brother Jeff were among three people killed in a California plane crash Sunday, Oct. 16.

On an already emotionally trying day the professional racing community now mourns two more beloved friends and competitors. It’s been confirmed that off-road racer Rick Huseman and his brother Jeff Huseman were among three people killed in a plane crash while attempting an emergency landing in Barstow, CA. The Beechcraft Bonanza aircraft had been traveling from North Las Vegas to Corona when it crashed about five miles from the Barstow-Doggett airport Sunday afternoon, officials said.

The news comes on the heels of a horrific 15-car wreck that claimed the life of IndyCar champion Dan Wheldon, who left behind a wife and two young sons. Huseman also leaves behind wife Michelle and toddler son Ricky.

Huseman’s amazing career included a record for the most single season wins in short course history and the prestigious Driver of the Year award from Dirt Sports Magazine in 2010. Upon hearing news of Rick and Jeff’s deaths, E3 Spark Plugs President and CEO Todd Arey release the following statement:

The motorsports family suffered two tragedies yesterday with the untimely deaths of Rick Huseman and his brother Jeff in a plane crash; and Dan Wheldon in a horrible INDY car wreck. Rick and Jeff Huseman were important members of the E3 race family, and we are deeply saddened by their deaths. Over the past year we have become very close to Rick and Jeff through our sponsorship of their off road truck program. Rick was a terrific racer and an amazing person, and we will miss his smile and his laugh. We are in shock over the loss of Rick and Jeff, and express our deepest sympathy to his family. I have wonderful memories of the times I spent with the Huseman race team and especially Rick. We ask that you keep the entire Huseman family in your prayers.

As a personal friend to Sam Schmit, we are also reaching out to express our support to the family of Dan Weldon at the loss of his life. I know that the Schmit Race family is deeply saddened by the events of yesterday and we wish to express our condolences and prayers of comfort to the Wheldon and Schmit families.

Todd Arey
President/CEO
E3 Spark Plugs

IndyCar racer Dan Wheldon was killed in a horrific accident at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Sunday. Photo via www.DanWheldon.com and GP Sports Managment.

E3 Spark Plugs joins the entire racing community in mourning the loss of Indianapolis 500 champion Dan Wheldon, who was killed Sunday in a violent 15-car crash at the Izod IndyCar World Championships finale at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Wheldon was racing as part of a promotion that would have landed a $5 million prize, to be split with a sweepstakes winner, for a series non-regular who won the race. Starting at the back of the 34-car field, Wheldon had worked his way to up some 10 spots by the 12th lap of the 200-lap race when two cars touched in front of him. That touch set of a disastrous chain reaction that would claim 15 cars. Wheldon was unable to slow down before impact. His car launched over the back of another car, turned in midair and slammed into the catch fence. Rescue workers responded quickly and Wheldon was airlifted to a nearby hospital, but doctors were unable to save him.

“Right now I’m numb and speechless,” former teammate and childhood friend Dario Franchitti told reporters. “We put so much pressure on ourselves to win races and championships and today it doesn’t matter.”

Officials suspended the race for more than two hours. When news came that Wheldon didn’t survive the crash, drivers returned to the track only for a five-lap tribute and did not finish the race. Just hours before his death, the 33-year-old reportedly had agreed to a full-time racing deal for 2012. He leaves behind wife Susie, two-year-old son Sebastian and infant son Oliver.

Couch and footstools made from a 1959 Cadillac by Vintage Vending.

If you’re a bona fide auto buff with new digs to decorate (or old ones that need some serious makeover mojo) E3 Spark Plugs has a few interior decorating ideas you’ll love. Turns out old cars never die. Many of them get new lives as fabulous furniture pieces. Here are a few of our favorites (check out the gallery below for photos):

1959 Cadillac Car Couch: A company called Vintage Vending created this gorgeous and quite comfy-looking couch from the back quarter of a ’59 Caddy. Normally, cars-turned-couches feature seating inside the trunk space with taillight fins facing forward and are made so that the back of the couch faces the wall. This one was made just the opposite. It features taillight fins on the back of the couch, with the seating facing the opposite direction. So, unlike most, this couch can sit in the middle of a spacious room and look great from either side.

GMC Truck Bed: California artists Patrick Amiot and Brigitte Laurente created this piece of rustic glory from an old GMC truck. The hood forms the headboard and the grill makes a great looking footboard. Those posts are made from oxy-acetylene tanks used in welding. And check out the vintage gas pump-turned-storage chest.

Seatbelt Chair: One incredibly talented design student at the University of Cincinnati created this black and white chair made from reclaimed seat belts and steel truss he found in a local junkyard. Minimalist, elegant and definitely durable. Spruce it up with a colorful seatbelt throw pillow by TING, a London- and Los Angeles-based design firm specializing in home items and accessories made from salvaged materials.

Trunk Tables: Dallas-based Weld House makes the coolest modern tables, armoires, beds, desks, even mail boxes and art pieces using reclaimed steel plates. These typically are the hoods and trunk lids of 1950s-1980s junked cars and trucks with metal surfaces that have been “weathered and worn to a beautiful mixture of solid color and patina,” the company’s website says.

Tire Loungers: Two chairs made from tires caught our eye. One, an ultra modern ergonomic piece by Ludovic Peperstraete, kind a looked like a lounging cartoon skeleton at first glance but we quickly saw the comfort potential. But it was the massive Easy Chair type piece made from overlapping layers of tire strips that we really love. We have no idea who designed it or who might have one in their living room or mancave. But we want one just like it.

Engine Coffee Table: You can bet that if you order an engine coffee table like the one made from a vintage Jaguar V12 by the UK’s Dave Clark Designs, the shipping alone will be pretty pricey. But you’ll have some serious bragging rights, too.

Spark Plug Dancers: Of course, you’ve got to have something decorative to display on your engine table besides your favorite beer mug. Might we suggest the delightful dancing couple sculpture by artist Dick Cooley, better known as the Spark Plug Guy? Note to self, we’ve gotta send this guy a big ol’ box of E3 spark plugs.

Got more great furniture pieces made from car parts? Post a pic on the E3 Spark Plugs Facebook fan page.